@C_NyaKundiH the phrase "minimum age for state-sanctioned bullets" is a grim metaphor suggesting that children as young as 12 are now targets of police violence. It expresses outrage and alarm.
@Nikita_Kering "If you stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, that's not progress. If you pull it all the way out, that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. They haven't pulled the knife out; they won't even admit that it's there." —Malcolm X
To Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah @KIMANIICHUNGWAH
I have watched this clip over and over again, and I am afraid to tell you that you have missed the nature of the current protest.
The fact that young, smart, educated Kenyans, armed with iPhones, expensive sneakers, designer jeans, and leather jackets, have well-kept dread and are willing to come out to picket and face off with police should worry any politician in Kenya. Be very afraid Mheshimiwa. It means they are ready to step out of their comfort zones.
Hon. Ichungwa, you should be busy burning the midnight oil on how to handle these young, agitated youth.
These are not your ordinary youth, Mheshimiwa.
✅️1. These individuals have dismantled the tribal barriers that had previously separated them. When they speak, their intelligence and sophistication are evident. They are not as stupid and ignorant as previously assumed. You cannot tell them by their accent or how they speak.
✅️2. These individuals possess no political affiliation; their freedom is akin to that of a bird. They are everywhere, from Meru to Kisumu, from Eldoret to Mombasa, from Kwale to Kiambu, from Garissa to Kisii, and the list goes on. Did I hear you say it's only NBI? Then you need to update yourself.
✅️3. These individuals don't require any mobilization fees, which is why, as you just mentioned, they collaborate to use Uber. There is nothing wrong with taking an Uber; if anything, the Uber driver would most likely be their tribe, Gen Z.
✅️4. These guys don't need handouts; as you state, they joined together to enjoy a decent meal after their protest. This would certainly piss off any politician. Most likely, Gen Z would be serving them.
✅️5. These guys have amazing good will from Kenyans. When you see a Somali restaurant providing them with free food water, Jamia mosque providing a safe haven for their tear-gassed comrades, it's important to remember that these are not normal times. When was the last time you saw a hijabi-clad lady in sneakers facing off with a cop?
✅️7. These guys look out for each other; did you see the many young Gen Z doctors and lawyers who came out to help their own? Did you see young photojournalists and cameramen protecting their fellow Gen Z protesters from police who are trying to use force .
✅️8. These individuals don't light up tires to obstruct roads, they don't smash windows to steal from shops, and they don't destroy cars by burning them. These guys are too sophisticated for that.
✅️9. These guys are gainfully employed, and some run their own hustles.
✅️10. These guys are leveraging technology; they are ahead of everyone else. These guys turned their mobile phones into walkie-talkies for ease of coordination. These guys are even ready for the internet shutdown, as they have equipped themselves with Starlink.
Hon. Ichungwa, we are in uncharted waters; you should be burning midnight oil to explore how to reach out to this youth. Well to reach out is also easier said than done , It's a challenge because it's hard to figure out who is their leader and who is a follower.
People have long accused these young Kenyans from middle-class families of neglecting matters of national concern. Now that the finance bill has brought them to the forefront, it is crucial to engage them, as they are well-prepared for the long haul.
I hope you noticed even Baba is shocked, or rather, pleasantly surprised.
Mheshimiwa, let this serve as a thought-provoking topic for the weekend, as these individuals are the true shareholders, and they aspire to reclaim their nation.
As always, I choose to remain an optimist.
I wish you good luck Mheshimiwa